Wednesday, August 1, 2007

The Metrocard-tosser and the "Circle of Hate"

We assume by the above definitions that old Metrocards would be considered trash. However, we also assume whether you call it trash or garbage, a used-up Metrocard is clearly meant to be discarded or disposed of in a proper manner and recycled if possible, of course.

It seems however that a rather hurried gentleman entering the subway on 23rd and 6th (the F train) sees things differently.

Let's break it down: As we gracefully slid through the subway turnstile this morning on our way to our real job, this bloated bloke next to us quickly pushed his card in and out, in and out, fighting the depleted monetary value of his card to no avail. Defeated, he pulled out another card...swiped through...and tossed the used-up card to the ground with no hesitation and a clear disregard for the Princeton Dictionary's definition of trash and what one is meant to do with trash (worthless material that is to be disposed of) (see above).

We yelled at the goon--"Stop...litterer! Stop, you slob!"--but he sprinted towards the downtown line, quickly out of sight and ass-kicking range. Quietly we turned and picked up his card and tossed it into the recycled card bin. Anger does not do justice to our rage. We bit our hand like Sonny when he finds out Carlo beat his sister Connie, in The Godfather.

We hated this man. We still do. He has entered our "Circle of Hate". And there's nothing wrong with having a "Circle of Hate". Ours consists of several extraordinarily awful people, including a friend of a friends mother who showed up drunk to our Grandmother's Shiva and proceeded to Saran wrap 7 sandwiches and some side salads to take home as dinner for her family.

Well welcome to the "Circle of Hate", Metrocard-tosser, and enjoy the company you litterous punk...

6 comments:

As a fellow NYC trash loather, I couldn't agree more with your posts on irresponsible litterers. It's infuriating to see so many New Yorkers litter the streets with such disregard for the city and others around them. Wake up NY! Have some pride in your city! The garbage problem is unhealthy, gross and frankly an embarrassment to all of us. I once was stopped for directions by a group of foreign tourists (first-time visitors to NYC), and they were shocked to discover how dirty NYC was and asked how that could be. In a city that’s so admired around the world, a place so many people can only dream of visiting, imagine the shock of finding piles and piles of garbage (and food!) all over the streets. And what to say to these horrified visitors? That New Yorkers don’t give a hoot?? They enjoy living in filth?? Seriously!! This problem reflects a terrible side of an otherwise wonderful city.

Litterers are only part of the problem. The city absolutely needs to be doing more. For example, SoHo on a Saturday and Sunday is FILLED with people. This inevitably leads to the trash containers overflowing. In no time, the trash spills all over the street, and that’s the way it stays all day and well into the night, when the rats have a field day. I know because I live there, and long after the tourist have gone, we’re left with the filth. Why not have bigger bins, and more frequent pick-ups when the streets are so crowded? If the city and merchants want to reap the financial benefits of the weekend crowds, then they should belly up and accept some responsibility for the trash problem that follows.

And what about timelier trash pick-ups for restaurants? Did you ever stop and think how nasty it is that restaurants put out piles and piles of garbage bags filled with food on the street and they just sit there?? Shouldn’t there be a limit to how long garbage (especially food!) can sit on the street before it needs to be picked up? To Trashy’s point, Tokyo seems to have a system that works, why can’t we?

I completely understand the need to keep our environment clean, healthy adn litter free, but violently accositng those who do is not the best way to go about it

In fact, a friend and I were viciously attacked by some fat, balding hippy in Davis Square by my school the other day and he followed us into an ATM vestible, hollering at my friend for dropping a receipt on the ground and not picking it up. I disagree with her action, but as a young woman, I was afraid for the safety of my person.

So, if anything, yell at the person if you must (although its really not the MATURE thing to do). But don't terrorize people. I've got the right to drink bottled water, smoke cigarettes, fornicate, worship the devil and drop shit on the city streets if i feel like it.

The last poster is a moron. Pure and simple. "I've got the right to...drop shit on the city streets if i feel like it." No, litterer, you don't have the right to do that. Littering is a crime that should be prosecuted more often. Throwing a cig butt on the street or out a car window should be cause for a fine. And if losers like this think they have the right to litter, than folks like Trashy and other 'clean types' have the right to pick up their litter and toss it right back in their face.